Avni:can we stay here for tonight plesse?only if you are comfortable and ok with it

Neil who was closing the container was surprised when avni said that

Neil : you want to stay over?

Avni: yh only if you are ok with it

Neil:I have no issues avni but you havent bought any clothes

Avni placed the frame down and walked over to neil

Avni: have you got clothes over here

Neil: well I do have my spare clothes here

Avni didnt answer and moved to open Neil's wardrobe and searched

Once she found what she was looking for she turned to Neil who saw a teeshirt and jogging bottoms in her hand

Avni:dont forget I once was a tomboy who would even wear your clothes she said smirking and walked to the washroom while Neil smiled widely

Neil:avni in my clothes again...this time the feeling is different he said pushing his hair back

He sat on the couch recalling all their happy moments till now

Neil :I'll cherish this moment too and the time we will spend tonight and every other night

Few minutes later neil was smiling going through his phone checking old birthday pictures of everyone when avni came out of the washroom folding her outfit nicely

Neil who heard the washroom door open looked up seen avni in his clothes making his heart dance, a sense of joy filled him...he kept his phone straight as he turned on the camera and secretly took her picture

Avni:  neil

Neil looked up quickly closing the camera

Neil: yh?

Avni: are you going to stay in this she said pointing at his clothes

Neil: uhh no Give me 5 minutes  he said getting up and quickly took out a pair and headed to the washroom

As Neil came out of the washroom he saw the lights dimmed while the balcony door was open with scented candles lighted up, gazing around his eyes halted in the kitchen area seen that one person who has messed up his heart badly but in a good way
A smile crept up on his face seen avni busy making coffee as the strong aroma filled the room up

Avni looked up when she felt a gaze on her and a smiled slowly spreaded on her face seen neil

Picking up the two cups she walked towards him yet there was this nervousness in her with the way neil was looking at her making a hint of blush appear on her cheeks

Avni: coffee she said handing him a cup which neil gladly took, she gestured towards the balcony to which he nodded

As they sat themselves down enjoying their coffee with a light breeze hitting their skin

Neil: avni

Avni: hmm

Neil: how did you celebrate your birthday in london all these years?

Avni who was enjoying the view looked at neil

Avni: when I had moved to london I didnt celebrate the 1st year been there..bua  said we will go out and celebrate but I just didnt feel like it..after maa and papa deat...after they passed away I just never felt like celebrating she said the last bit heavily

Neil took her hand in his as he rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb

Neil: so you never celebrated? He asked as he recalled sahil saying he was the one who useto plan avni birthday

Avni: if it was in my hand then I wouldnt but for bua  I agreed that day because before me she had a relation with papa and maaa and by hiding her own pain she was  trying to make me feel better so I agreed then ...when I became friends with sahil he started to plan my birthday..I appreciated to all those that have made my birthday special but another reason to not celebrate it was because of mumma and papa because it would always remind me how they always planned my birthday differently each year but the one thing that would never change was how special they would make it with their love...I mean can anyone ever beat ashish metha  and ayesha metha  when it comes to planning any occasions she said slightly chuckling

Neil: well in that case I do deserve some credit right I mean I made your birthday special

Avni: well you did butttt she said stretching on the word but

Neil: what but ?

Avni : you still have to reach to their level she said smiling as she looked at him

Neil: is that so

Avni: yessss

Neil: well I guess you are right nobody can match up to uncle and aunty but after them it's me remember that he said pulling her nose making avni chuckle

Avni: you never celebrated your birthday?

Neil looked at avni 

Neil: just like you i hadn't celebrated my birthday  but  due to family especially mom made me agree though it was never done from heart as you wasnt there he said looking at her

avni looked at neil and then at their hand where his thumb was caressing the back of her hand ..she lifted his hand and intertwined their fingers

Avni: despite going away from you all I always had thought about you all..everyday I would miss you all especially all the masti we did in childhood and then when we started college..you know whenever it was my birthday na I would recall you all especially how everyone  would sing happy birthday

Neil: I wish if you had stayed avni he said looking ahead as he rested his head against the wall

Avni: I wished too Neil but you know the reason...my head was messed up...all I wanted to do was get away at that time and sometimes I still feel the same  because everything keeps coming back be it what happened to my parents or between us she said the last bit quietly which he heard

Neil: I felt you would come back after some time but you never did...we thought you would call but you only contacted the metha family not us.... somewhere It felt as if you left our friendship on that piece of paper..I know you would never do that but it just felt like that

Avni: I didn't have the courage to contact you all after  I left neil and despite not been in touch with you all I still considered you all as my friends and a part of my life..do you know when I came back here i hardly went  near mumma and papa room because it has their feelings and I feel as if I enter then  those feelings will engulf me in such way that will weaken me even more... I still wish for them to come back neil whenever I blow the candles like a fool I make a wish of returning them to me she said as her voice cracked and tears rolled down her cheeks unable to control her tears

Neil's felt a pain in his heart...placing both their cups down he pulled her close to him wrapping his hands around her and avni head rested on his chest

Neil: it's ok avni it's ok calm down...they are watching over you and wouldnt be happy to see their daughter crying like this right...it wont hurt you only but them too he said trying to give her soothing words and kept placing kisses on top of her head

Avni: I wish if they jus...justt appear out of nowhere and shout su...surprise we are not going anywhere now...sometimes I wish if we can go back In time and make that incident dissapear from our life the night where we lost them she said as tears rolled down her cheeks

Neil: they are here avni...in our memories...they are in you...close your eyes and you will see them smiling happily

avni listened to neil and closed her eyes...she saw a happy ayesha turning towards her and blowing a kiss at her while ashish  came with birthday cake and both saying " happy birthday avni"

Precrap: same as before
neil caressed avni hand

neil: life was so strange avni here I thought I only loved you as a friend but it took me so long to realise that I had always loved you more than a friend and still love you...I'm sorry for giving you pain always but I love you chatterbox I love you more than anything he said with tears in his eyes

I know it's a short update but I tried to do my best

Thank you to those who commended and voted for the previous chapter

Will be waiting for all the comments and votes

Lots of love